As if in answer to his smile, Deborah pushed back her chair from the little writing-table, and picking up the loose sheets of her manuscript, heaved a very audible sigh of relief. Then the room rustled. Her husband looked upon her with a quizzical eye Major Macdonald beat the ashes from his cigar, and looked up some of the others clapped hands; while pretty Mrs. Barnes went to lean upon her friend's shoulder.